Time of travel and dispersion of solutes in a 36.4-mile reach of the North Platte River downstream from Casper, Wyoming

Water-Resources Investigations Report 82-4103

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Abstract

Time-of-travel and dispersion measurements made during a dye study November 7-8, 1978, are presented for a reach of the North Platte River from Casper, Wyo., to a bridge 2 miles downstream from below the Dave Johnston Power Plant. Rhodamine WT dye was injected into the river at Casper, and the resultant dye cloud was traced by sampling as it moved downstream. Samples were taken in three equal-flow sections of the river 's lateral transect at three sites, then analyzed in a fluorometer. The flow in the river was 940 cubic feet per second. The data consist of measured stream mileages and time, distance, and concentration graphs of the dye cloud. The peak concentration traveled through the reach in 24 hours, averaging 1.5 miles per hour; the leading edge took about 22 hours, averaging 1.7 miles per hour; and the trailing edge took 35 hours, averaging 1.0 mile per hour. Data from this study were compared with methods for estimating time of travel for a range of stream discharges.

Study Area

Additional publication details

Publication type:

Report

Publication Subtype:

USGS Numbered Series

Title:

Time of travel and dispersion of solutes in a 36.4-mile reach of the North Platte River downstream from Casper, Wyoming

Series title:

Water-Resources Investigations Report

Series number:

82-4103

Year Published:

1984

Language:

English

Publisher:

U.S. Geological Survey

Publisher location:

Cheyenne, WY

Contributing office(s):

WY-MT Water Science Center

Description:

Report: iv, 17 p.

Country:

United States

State:

Wyoming

City:

Casper

Other Geospatial:

North Platte River

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